Signal device for mailboxes



July 29, 1947. J. c. JONES SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MAIL BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 a Q 2 a a N a Filed Dec. 10, 1943 V s U u u n 5 fl w 0 7 Mn u I INVENTOR. \bJ'IP/YQJMJJ 29, 1947. c, JONES 2,424,661

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MAIL BOXES Filed Dec. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 I INVENTOR.

V5.14? C? c/ame'a Patented July 29, 1947 H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in boxes in which the mail is deposited by the carrier, and has particular relation to warning or signalling devices, by means of which the owner of the box is signalled during the time the box is being opened to deposit the mail therein.

Mail boxes are usually not at a place where they can be under the observation of the owner, and it is usually very desirable, therefore, that some signal should be given that mail is being placed in the box, and numerous attempts have been made and devices proposed for this purpose.

Many of these devices, as in the present case, depend upon the opening of the box to actuate a signal, but substantially all of those heretofore known either continue the signal during the full time that the box is open, or make an additional signal during the closing of the box, and at first glance it would seem that such features were not only not objectionable, but that they were extremely desirable features, in that the giving of the signal would then continue over a considerable period of time. This would be true were it not for the fact that in a great many cases it is impossible to fully house the mail at all times within the box so that the lid or door may be fully closed, as when magazines or newspapers are of such length that they hold the top open, and an objectionable condition is set up where it is not possible to immediately remove the mail. Also, where the owner is absent during the day, or for extended periods, a condition is set up which may be extremely objectionable to other parties, as the occupants of adjacent apartments, houses or ofllces, and additionally where the signalling device is operated by a battery, rapid depletion of the battery occurs.

The objects of the present invention'are:

To make a signalling actuating device for a mail box which is simple in construction and inexpensive, and which actuates the signal only during the opening of the box for the insertion of mail therein, and not otherwise.

A further object of the invention is to accomplish a mounting for a signalling operating device which is readily accessible for adjustment, repair or replacement; and

A further object is to make a simple and efficient signal operating device which is shielded against accidental operation by the mail matter deposited in the box.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished, and the manner of their accomplishment, will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional side elevation, taken as on the line I-I of Fig. 5, with the lid of the box, however, closed.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding fragmentary sectional elevation showing the top of the box moved from closed position to a partially open position and signal actuating contact made by such opening movement.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 a fragmentary sectional plan, taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, both looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the mail box showing the side thereof which carries the circuit completing contacts swung-open to permit access to such parts, the view also showing diagram matically a signalling device and circuit leads thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

The box is preferably a rectangular structure, which may be of wood, having a back H which may be conveniently secured, in any usual and well known manner, to a support, not shown, holes l2 being shown in the back through which such securement may be effected. The box also has a front l3, sides l5 and IT, bottom I9, and a top or lid 2| hingedly secured, as by a hinge 23, to the top edge of the back II, the front of the box being of less heighth than the back, in the usual manner of such structures, and the sides l5 and I1 sloping upward from the front to the back to complete a seat for the top 2|.

Secured to one side of the box, as the side [5, is a member 25 of insulating material to which is secured a thin, flatcontact bar 21 of resilient metal, the width of this bar being preferably less than the width of the supporting member 25, in order that the bar may be laterally shielded from contact with articles placed within the box. Also secured to the side I 5 is a complementary contact member 29, against which the bar 21 may be deflected, in manner to be described.

3| is a source of electric current from which leads 33, 35 extend respectively to the contact bar and member, and are secured to and electrically contacted therewith, as by screws 31 and 39. One of the leads, as the lead 33, is in circuit in usual manner with a signal device 4| which may be a bell.

Secured to the underside of the top H of the box is a cam 43 which is preferably of triangular shape, with one side shaped to lie along the back of the box when the top is closed, the cam being disposed in immediate adjacency to the side of the box which carries the contacts 21 and 29, so that the contact 2'! lies in the path of movement of the cam as the top is opened or closed. The depth of the cam is such that, when the top of the box is being opened, the cam adjacent its point engages the under side of the contact bar 21, flexing the bar upward, as shown in Fig. 2, until it engages the contact member 29 and thereby completes a circuit through th signal 4|, energizing and operating it, and that as the top is further opened it disengages from the contact bar, releasing it to spring away from the contact member 29 and break the circuit, so that during further opening movement the circuit is an open one. On closing movement of the top, th cam 63 engages the upper side of the contact bar 21, flexing the contact bar 21 away from the contact member 29 and as the top approaches its seat again releases the bar, so that irrespective of whether the top be left full open, be partially closed, or fully closed, no additional signal will be given.

Th various parts of the box are secured together as by screws. Preferably the side 15 is secured adjacent its bottom end by two screws 65 and 45 which extend oppositely into it through the back and front of the box and by a single additional screw 41 extending through the front l3 near the upper end of the front, the two screws 45 and 46 being in alinement so that to obtain access to the contacts 21 and 29, the upper screw 4'! may be removed and the side 15 swung outward about the screws 45 and 46 as a pivot, as shown in Fig. 5, the side being swung to original position and the screw 4! being replaced to restore the box to original condition.

In using the box, the top 2| is necessarily raised to insert the mail. As it is raised, the cam 43 swings into contact with the contact bar 21, flexing this bar upward gainst the contact member 29, completing the circuit and energizing the signal. On further opening movement of the top, which is necessary to insert the mail, the cam disengages from the contact bar, releasing the bar and allowing it to open the circuit. Further movement of the top has no effect on the signal, and circuit closure is not effected no matter how long the top of the box may remain open. After the mail is inserted it is usual to clos the top of the box, and this is ordinarily done, unless a magazine, newspaper or other elongated article prevents such closure. During the closing movement the cam again engages the contact bar 21, but this engagement moves the bar away from the contact member 29 and does not energize the signal, so that even though closure be interrupted during cam and bar engagement, no signal is given. During closing movement the contact bar is flexed over the support 25 until the cam disengages, then the bar again resumes its initial shape.

I claim:

In a mail box including walls of dielectric material at right angles, and a cover hinged along one of its edges to a first of said walls; a switch, including a cam rigidly secured to said cover and depending therefrom, in immediate adjacency to a second said wall at right angles to said first wall, a contact member underlying said cover and secured to said second wall beyond the path of movement or said cam in opening and closing movement of said cover, and a complementary contact assembly underlying said contact mem- .ber, said assembl including a block secured against said second wall with its remote end beyond said contact member from said cam, and its proximate end spaced from said path of movement, and an overlying flexible contact strip secured at its remote end to said block, said strip extending in spaced relation to said member and said block into th arc of said path of movement, intermediate the beginning and end thereof, said block extending laterally from said wall beyond said strip and said cam to shield said strip and cam from interfering contact with articles placed in said box.

JOSEPH C. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 498,550 Holtum May 30, 1893 843,929 Charland Feb. 12, 1907 982,253 Condit Jan. 24, 1911 

